Regulating discharge from containers



Aug. 30,1927. Y 1,640,528 1 BNIBRUHN REGULATING DISCHARGE FROM CONTAINERS Filed April 5 1927 INVENTUR Lzn& L

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

.uu rso STATES PATE T OFFICE;

ammo BRUHN, or BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNoR 'ro G. ,roLYsrUs, or

- m ssau, GERMANY, A sum.

REGULATING DISCIIARGE FROM CONTAINERS.

Application filed April 5, 1927. Serial No. 181,102.

This invention is particularly applicable for use in controlling the discharge of materials which have an abrasive action or which are liable for other reasons to interfere with the proper operation or service of a regulating valve. Merely as an example of one such use, I have in'mind the delivery of sand, cement, concrete mixtures or other such granular, plastic or fluid masses or for controlling the discharge of mixtures to rotary furnaces in the manufacture of cement. It is desirable to regulate the rate of discharge, but simple valves when used for-this purpose are subject to great wear because of the abrasive character of the material. Consequently, in a'very short time, they fail to work properly and must be replaced.

In carrying out my present invention, I

provide a plurality of nozzles of different sizes so mounted that any one of them may be brought into operative position. Thus the rate of discharge will depend upon the size of the passage of the particular nozzlewhich has been brought into operation.

The various nozzles are preferably mounted on a rotatable member and at equal distances from the center of the latter so that they may be brought into and out of position b the mere rotation of the member. In or er to facilitate this rotation and the forming of a tight jointbetween the rotatable member and the vessel outlet, the memher is preferably axially movable and is yieldingly held against the outlet.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood that this may be modified as to details within the scope of the invention as defined in claims.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section of an apparatus embodying the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the rotatable member.

The invention. is illustrated as applied to a container 10 which may be of any suitable character and adapted to hold any fluid, granular or plastic material, the discharge of which is to be regulated. The bottom of the containerhas a plate 11 which carries a discharge tube 12 provided with any suitthe appended able form of shut-off valve 13. At one side of the discharge tube 12, there is provided a bracket 14 serving to support the pivot pin 15 of a rotatably mounted disk 16 which may have a hand wheel or other hand grip portion 16 to facilitate the rotation thereof. The pin is shown as held against rotation with the disk rotatable on the lower end of the pin.-

The disk 15. carries a series of nozzles 17' with passages of different internal diameter, and arranged inan annular rowat equal distances-from the axis of the pin 15. The center of each nozzle is at the same distance from the center of the pin as is the center of the .dischar 'e tube 12. Each nozzle at its upper end as its passage flared to .the proper diameter to register with the outlet from the tube 12, and is also preferably provided with means for forming a ti ht seal with the end of the vessel outlet. Mlarely as an example, each nozzle is shown as having an annular flange or seat 18 which may fit within a corresponding annular flange or the pin is preferably'made axially movable.

The bracket 14 is shown as having lugs for supporting a horizontal pivot pin 19 and mounted on this is a lever arm 20 having a handle 21 at one end and a weight 22 at the other. The pivot pin 19 also has a lever arm 23 extending through a slot in the wall of the bracket 14 and into an aperture in the pivot pin 15. The size of the weight and its distance from the pivot 19 is such that it normally presses the pin 15 upwardly and carries the weight of the latter as well as the weight of the disk 16 and the several nozzles.

nozzle due to the movement of the material through the latter. When it is desired to bring a different nozzle into position, the handle 21 is depressed to slightly lower the disk 16 and the latter is then rotated by It also resists a'nydownward thrust on the means of the hand wheel 16% to bring the used as the full mechanical equivalent of the counter-balancing weight 22. I a

When it isdesired to shut oflt' the flow of material, the valve 13 may be closed, but it will be noted'that this valve is always to stand in either closed or wide open positionand that the regulating of the rate of dis charge is done not by the valve 13 but by the selection of the nozzle of the proper size. The nozzles are preferably made separate from the disk 16 so that they may be replaced, if they become worn. Each may have a flange at its upper end and seating on the upper surface of the disk so that no special attaching or retaining means is necessary. V

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

-1. An apparatus of the character describedincluding a container having a discharge passage, a pivot pin, substantially parallel to said passage, a disk roi atably mounted on said pin and having an annular row of nozzles of-difierent diameters, said disk being axially movable and having means forfyieldingly pressing it inone direction to hold a nozzle firmly against the end of'sai-dpassage.

2; An apparatus of the character described, including a container having a discharge passage provided with a shut-off valve, a pivot pin at one side of said member, a lever connected to said pin and having a counterbalancing Weight tending to lift said pin, and

tion.

a disk rotatably mounted on said pin and having an annular row of nozzles of different diameters, each provided with means for efi'ecting a seating engagement With the end of said discharge passage.

3. In combination, a vessel having an outlet passage provided with a shut-off valve, a bracket atone side of said passage, a longitudinally movable pin mounted in said bracket, a disk rotatably mounted on said pin, an annular row of nozzles of different internal diameters carried by said disk, and each having a flange at its upper end vfor seating on the disk aseat portion, and a flaring upper end for registery withsaid discharge passage, a lever pivotally mounted on said bracket and connected to said pin, and a counter-balancing weight connected to said lever for lifting the pin and holding the disk and nozzles in maximum raised posi- 4'. apparatus for regulating the disv charge of abrasive material,including a dis charge passage, a disk having a plurality of "nozzles of different internal diameter, said disk being normally stationary, but rotatable .to permit any one ofsaid nozzles to be held in registry with said discharge passage, and means for pressing said disk toward said dischar e passage to form a tight joint between t e discharge passage and the nozzle in registry therewit v Signed at Bethlehem, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, this second day of April, A. D. 1927.

BRUNO 'BRUHN. 

